With the final name now crossed off the restricted free agent list, the Dallas Stars took care of some business on Monday and signed Roope Hintz and a new three-year contract extension. The deal that carries an average annual value of $3.15 million and keeps him under contract through the 2022-23 season.
Related: Tyler Seguin Surgery Delayed, Could Miss Significant Time Next Season
Hintz, 23, had 19 goals and 33 points for the Stars this past season but really came on as an NHLer in the 2019 playoffs scoring five goals and eight points in 13 games. He added two goals and 11 assists for the Stars in this season’s run to the Stanley Cup Finals, ultimately being on the losing end to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Given Tyler Seguin’s injury situation and considering how quiet the Stars were in free agency this offseason, this $3.15 million is a message to Hintz that he’ll need to keep moving forward and play an even bigger role in the Stars offense next season. The breakdown of the deal is $2 million in 2020-21, $3 million in 2021-22 and $4.45 million in 2022-23. As most contracts have been this offseason, the deal is backloaded.
He should be a good keep for the Stars as he can shoot the puck and is otherwise good/very good at most other facets of the game. Drafted by Dallas in the second round (49th overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of Tampere, Finland should score between 40 and 45 points next season.
The Stars now have $257K in salary cap space after the signing with a roster size: 23 (12F-9D-2G).
Next: Jake DeBrusk’s Next Contract Coming Into View with Bruins
